ELASTIC - SON ®

THE ROLE OF CENTRALIZED

SON IN RAN SHARING
& NETWORK COLLABORATION
SCENARIOS

USE CASE DESCRIPTION

A NECESSARY PART OF AN EMERGING

OPERATOR STRATEGY
Mobile operators have to adapt their networks to keep pace with market
changes and economic realities. Undertaking a RAN Sharing or Network
Collaboration project involves multiple mobile networks. The success of
these complex projects relies on a robust optimization platform that is able
to connect to multiple Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) simultaneously,
conduct continuous optimization, across all technologies and RAN vendors.
This paper presents the results achieved from two RAN Sharing projects
relying on Cellwize elastic-SON®.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Centralized Self Organizing Networks (C-SON) are being widely adopted for
end-to-end mobile network optimization and increasingly find application
in RAN sharing scenarios, where different mobile network operators
(MNOs) work together to extend their network coverage with minimal
investment to ensure higher overall quality of service and even potentially
experience shared customers. MNO collaboration around RAN sharing is
complex because it involves multiple RAN vendors, technologies and
network policies. As such, for C-SON solutions to be effective in a RAN
sharing project, it is essential that such solutions be able to not only work
cross network vendors and technologies, but also enforce the right network
policy in every situation.

The Cellwize elastic-SON solution is one of such C-SON platforms that views
multiple networks as a single entity and applies Self-Optimizing principles
to all technology layers, harmonizing all technologies, so that MNOs can
generate the most value out of their network assets.

Successful results in several RAN sharing projects leveraging Cellwize

elastic-SON solution have confirmed that the implementation of C-SON is
actually a fundamental part of any RAN sharing project. As demonstrated
from the two use cases presented in this paper, other optimization benefits
were achieved across the whole RAN sharing network such as significantly
reduced drop call rates, increased engineering efficiency and signal quality
based roaming across all technologies and vendors.

We chose Cellwize due to their ability to work with all

Telefónica UK incumbent RAN vendors and technologies.

Cellwize was successful in improving customer experience

during such a complex RAN-sharing network swap project…

Adrian Di Meo, CTO of Telefonica UK

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ABOUT ELASTIC-SON
MULTI-VENDOR & MULTI-TECHNOLOGY
Cellwize elastic-SON is a C-SON solution comprised of Self-Configuration,
Self-Optimization and Self-Healing modules. It supports complex
heterogeneous networks made of multiple radio access technologies and
multiple network vendors. Cellwize’s offering encompasses 2G, 3G, 4G and
HetNet technologies, meeting Tier-1 MNOs’ requirements for all
technologies and across all network vendors.

elastic-SON is designed to view the network as a single entity and effectively

optimize such single entity across all technologies. It is fully 3GPP compliant ELASTIC-SON
and enables operators to improve network performance, maximize HOLISTIC
network capacity, extend coverage and increase quality through a APPROACH
combination of highly effective optimization algorithms that operate in-
synch to maximize results across the entire network. The solution can work OPTIMIZATION
in fully closed-loop, open loop and hybrid modes.
ACROSS ALL
With a strong foothold in several tier-1 operator networks, Cellwize has
acquired vast experience operating SON in RAN sharing and RAN TECHNOLOGIES
collaboration scenarios.

CELLWIZE ELASTIC-SON ARCHITECTURE

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ELASTIC-SON FOR NETWORK SHARING
MNO collaboration around RAN sharing is complex because it involves
multiple RAN vendors, technologies and network policies. And so, to be
most effective in a RAN sharing project, a C-SON solution must be able to
work across vendors and network technologies. The Cellwize C-SON
solution has been proven in different network sharing projects, bringing
many benefits through its ability to seamlessly react to network changes
and continuously repair network performance, regardless of vendor or
technology.

Like most network activities, RAN sharing projects follow a planning &
design phase, service rollout (build and integrate), and then optimization of
the resulting network. Cellwize elastic-SON is instrumental in both
establishing the shared network and in the ongoing operation of the new
network. The following illustration depicts different RAN Sharing scenarios
supported by Cellwize C-SON solution:

RAN Sharing Scenarios

+37%
INCREASED
ENGINEERING
EFFICIENCY

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ESTABLISHING THE SHARED NETWORK
A C-SON solution is necessary to manage all of required on-going
commissioning and optimization tasks resulting from the physical changes
in the network, such as site swap, new site configuration and physical
parameter changes, which are often associated with a RAN sharing process.
Cellwize elastic-SON ensures improved Quality of Experience (QoE) and
Quality of Service (QoS) for customers through the execution of these tasks.

In addition, C-SON significantly shortens time-to-market by streamlining the

deployment of the shared network, which further results in a dramatic
reduction in operating expenses related to the entire process.

DURING ON-GOING OPERATIONS

Depending on the type and extent of the RAN sharing scenario, which may
consist of a multiple RAN vendor constellation and cross-technology
network, elastic-SON takes a holistic approach in optimizing the entire
network, expanding and contracting coverage and capacity and maximizing
handover robustness according to network demand.

By implementing the most optimal SON modules for the shared networks,
elastic-SON takes into account both operators' policies and constraints,
continuously and simultaneously retrieving counters, configurations and
log files from both networks, and successfully normalizing them in order to
optimize with respect to each other. All optimization modules deployed,
such as ANR, SCO/ PCI, MLB and CCO operate in harmony, dynamically
adjusting the different parameters that will benefit both operators’
customers.

Only a single platform can perform these tasks seamlessly and efficiently.

Cellwize elastic-SON is uniquely designed to support a range of RAN sharing

scenarios (as depicted in the image above), including inter-PLMN (National
Roaming) between different operators, MORAN (Multi-Operator Radio
Access Network) and MOCN (Multi-Operator Core Network) constellations.
As such, elastic-SON can handle the challenges present in such shared
environments, including the following:
#1
IN STREAMLINING
NETWORK
SHARING
& MODERNIZATION
PROJECTS

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PHYSICAL DATA RECOVERY (INACCURATE PHYSICAL DATA)
During RAN sharing projects the physical data entry may be inaccurate, due
to human error or measurement mistakes. Cellwize’s patented algorithms
discover physical discrepancies and correct them.

SCRAMBLING CODE RESOLUTION BETWEEN DIFFERENT NETWORKS

elastic-SON resolves cases where the same codes are used in two adjacent
networks, which if not corrected causes malfunction in the optimization
process. Since this is a very common challenge in RAN sharing networks,
Cellwize pays extra special attention to scrambling code using various
dedicated algorithms.

2G|3G|4G OPTIMIZATION CAPABILITIES

elastic-SON has built-in capabilities supporting all technologies (2G/3G/4G).
This is absolutely critical in order to ensure full coverage of all possible intra-
RAT and inter-RAT cross-optimization capabilities in a network sharing
environment.

ADAPTIVE HANDOVER AND RESELECTION POLICY ENFORCEMENT

elastic-SON is able to enforce adaptive HO and reselection (Intra-
Frequency, Inter-Frequency, IRAT, Inter-MNC) policies and rules between
the different networks as well as within each of the operators’ networks.

RE-HOMING/ RE-PARENTING MOVING CELLS BETWEEN DIFFERENT RNCS

elastic-SON allows cells to be re-homed/re-parented to different BSC/RNC
- from the same or a different vendor - completely transparently. elastic-
SON automatically applies appropriate changes in the network topology
(e.g. external cells, external neighbor definitions) once a change of BSC/RNC
is detected, thereby ensuring consistency across the network.

FLEXIBLE NAMING CONVENTIONS

elastic-SON has the flexibility to accept diverse naming conventions of the
different operators to allow for inter-PLMN optimization.
OVER

SMALL/FEMTO CELL INTEGRATION 1,000,000

elastic-SON has the ability to embed Small/Femto cells into the Macro MANAGED CELLS
network and enforce HO and mobility policies.
122,000,000
SUBSCRIBERS
ENJOYING
ENHANCED USER
EXPERIENCE

2015 | WHITE PAPER| ELASTIC-SON® RAN SHARING COLLABORATION SCENARIOS 6

USE CASE 1: RAN SHARING | MORAN
TWO TIER-1 EUROPEAN OPERATORS
SITUATION:
As part of a project aimed to improve mobile coverage for 2G and 3G, as
well as to accelerate 4G rollout across one of the largest countries in
Europe, 2 leading tier-1 MNOs pooled their RAN infrastructure: towers,
masts, radio equipment and local transmission kit, in a 50/50 joint venture.
The country’s network was then divided geographically, with each operator
managing one geographical area.

By creating one grid of 18,500 cellular sites, sharing the best geographical
location, the MNOs were able to eliminate legacy infrastructure and
provide a wider range of coverage and capacity to all users on the network.
Both MNOs are able to offer their customers the best possible Quality of
Service and Experience. In this use case, no signal, spectrum or fiber
backbone are shared.

In this situation, the tier-1 MNOs are network sharing under a MORAN
scenario, since they are using the same cell sites, the same BTSs/ NodeBs/
eNodeBs and the same BSCs/ RNCs.

NEED:
During the RAN sharing effort, which also included a RAN modernization
process, MNO-1 commissioned a significant number of shared sites, which
were rolled out on a daily basis. By implementing elastic-SON, MNO-1 was
able to ensure a fast, efficient, reliable and successful process. MNO-1
needed not only to deploy a new network and ensure proper operation of
the newly deployed sites, but more importantly maintain reliable
performance and high level of service for all of its customers.

CHALLENGES:
The nationwide operation introduced various challenges, which were met
by Cellwize experts using elastic-SON:

 The need to handle a multi-vendor (Nokia, Ericsson) cross-technology

(2G, 3G, 4G and small cells) network.
 The need to carry out the SON implementation during the course of a
complex live network modernization project, including a vendor swap.
 The need for MNO-1 to save on increasing operating expenses resulting
from the vendor swap, further compounded by associated project
delays.
 The requirements on both MNOs to abide to strict SLA agreements
within their managed areas.

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 The need to provide MNO-1 with legacy site information and
measurements of MNO-2 within MNO-1’s managed area and along the
borders between networks.
 The need to reduce MNO-1’s exisiting very high drop rates inherited
from the RAN sharing process already in place prior to the elastic-SON
deployment, and resulting in increased customer dissatisfaction along
with high operation loads due to the swap.

CELLWIZE SOLUTION:

Cellwize elastic-SON, with the above modules, was implemented in “closed-

loop” mode, and deployed across the entire country, optimizing over
130,000 cells.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

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USE CASE 2: RAN SHARING | NATIONAL ROAMING
TIER-1 WESTERN EUROPEAN OPERATOR
SITUATION
The customer, a tier-1 Western European MNO-3 acquired another operator
within the same country. As part of the acquisition, a national roaming
capability was established between the MNOs to enable both MNO’s
subscribers to roam seamlessly between both networks, based on signal
quality, so that all subscribers would enjoy the best network experience.

The joint network is comprised of over 300,000 cells, 5 different RAN vendors
and all RAT (2G, 3G and 4G) technologies.

NEED:
In order to support national roaming based on signal quality, a
comprehensive monitoring and optimization system was required to
efficiently organize, configure and heal the huge constellation of cells, layers,
technologies, vendors and hundreds of different combinations and complex
set of policies. In reality, only an automated, intelligent tool, such as elastic-
SON, could offer the level of support needed by such a complex network.

CHALLENGES:
The nation-wide project introduced various
challenges, once again met by Cellwize experts and
the SON solution:

 A huge network consisting of over 300,000 cells.

 A complex 5-network vendor environment:
Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, ZTE and Siemens.
 A multiple-technology scenario: 2G, 3G, 4G and
small cells.
 A complex set of handover (HO) rules between
cells, layers, technologies, RAN vendors and
operator networks creating hundreds of
different policies and rule combinations and
dependencies.
 A need to maintain coverage continuity to ensure
seamless handovers between both networks.

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CELLWIZE SOLUTION:
Cellwize elastic-SON was implemented in “closed-loop” mode and deployed
across the entire country. The elastic-SON modules below were applied:

ACHIEVEMENTS:

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CONCLUSION
Cellwize elastic-SON is designed and developed to support different
scenarios of RAN sharing. Cellwize robust C-SON solution is successfully
optimizing tier-1 commercial projects involving RAN Sharing networks.
elastic-SON effectively enforcing complex policies and strategies originating
from multiple operators. The solution seamlessly bridges the networks of
multiple operators, normalizing the data in a single platform, in order to
analyze and efficiently optimize the inter-operator outcomes.

ABOUT CELLWIZE
Driving Value through SON!

Cellwize develops and delivers innovative SON solutions across vendors and
wireless technologies. elastic-SON transforms rigid, physical networks into
adaptive and responsive “organisms” that continuously match capacity, coverage
and quality with evolving usage patterns. elastic-SON complimented with SON-as-
a-Service realizes its promise with multiple MNOs across Europe, APAC and
LATAM. Elastic self-organized networks become responsive and efficient calling for
a shift from network productivity gains to user value maximization. We call it
Value-Driven SON®.

Founded by industry experts, Cellwize launched its commercial SON platform in

2012.

For more information, visit http://cellwize.com/ or contact info@cellwize.com,

read the latest posts at http://www.cellwize.com/news and follow the company
on Twitter: @cellwize

Copyright 2015 Cellwize Wireless Technologies PTE Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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The content of this document is provided for information purposes only and is subject to
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as to the content or accuracy of the information contained herein, including but not limited to the
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Cellwize, elastic-SON, Value-Driven SON, the Cellwize logo are trademarks of Cellwize Wireless
Technologies PTE Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their owners.

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2015 | WHITE PAPER| ELASTIC-SON® RAN SHARING COLLABORATION SCENARIOS 11